‘Entertainment Tonight’ EP Brad Bessey Leaving Show After Two Years On Job

Two years after taking the job, Entertainment Tonight Executive Producer Brad Bessey is departing the newsmagazine show, Deadline has confirmed. While the split was amicable, his contract wasn’t renewed due to concerns about a drop in ratings in several important categories. Bessey will be leaving before the show’s 36th season and is being replaced temporarily as executive producer by co-executive producer Rick Joyce until a replacement is found.

Bessey came aboard Entertainment Tonight in April, 2014, replacing Linda Bell Blue, who became president of ET Studios, and the departing DJ Petroro. Joyce was hired as co-executive producer in April of 2016. Bessey previously executive produced ET spinoff series The Insider before taking the reins at Entertainment Tonight.

Entertainment Tonight, the top syndicated series of its type, has averaged 4.1 million viewers for the current season. CBS Television distributes the series.